The
Society for Ecocriticism Studies in Japan

SES-Japan

The Society for the Study of Ecocriticism
in Japan started as a study group in 1994 after Professor Scott Slovic visited
Hiroshima University and lectured on nature writing and ecocriticism to a
graduate class in American Literature from the Department of Language and
Culture. After inviting outside participation, the class grew into a regular
meeting for the study of environment, literature, and culture from the
viewpoint of ecocriticism, which Cheryll Glotfelty described as “the
relationship between literature and the physical environment.” Since being
defined, ecocriticism has become an eclectic field incorporating other
postmodern approaches to literature and exercising growing impact, particularly
in disseminating awareness of environmental crises. The spontaneous meeting
eventually evolved into a society that holds annual meetings with
presentations; workshops; symposia; as well as special lectures by writers and
ecocritics from the United States, scholars from various fields of literature,
and environmental activists. Membership is diverse. Participants in several disciplines
gather from different regions of Japan. Members' specialties include English
teaching, American literature, multicultural studies, science fiction, area
studies, and Japanese literature and culture. SES-J is a registered society
within the Japan American Literary Society. In the last 20 years, we have
produced critical works, and published several books (see the list of
publications). The works listed are the main products of the society's
activities. SES-J welcomes everybody, from scholars with an interest in this
interdisciplinary and theoretical field to non-academics who wish to
contemplate the future of the earth through appreciation of the environment and
literature.